地球観測プラットフォームAxelGlobeによる小型光学衛星を用いた令和6年能登半島地震の緊急災害対応

抄録

On January 1, 2024, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, causing extensive damage across the Noto Peninsula. Through months of recovery efforts, the extent of the damage required efficient resource allocation for rescue and recovery. Remote sensing via satellites became crucial for comprehensive observation, with private sector efforts proving valuable in such scenarios.

AxelGlobe, a constellation of five microsatellites (GRUS-1 A to E) belonging to the Axelspace Corporation, observes the same location with optical sensors every two days. This high-frequency observation capability allowed Axelspace to capture images the day after the earthquake, surpassing traditional single-satellite systems.

Following the earthquake, Axelspace initiated emergency observation and decided to distribute the data for free. Within two hours, the Noto Peninsula was registered as an Area of Interest (AOI). This rapid response enabled observation on January 2, focusing on areas like Wajima City. The data were processed and made available on a dedicated website.

The observations demonstrated the effectiveness of optical satellite constellations in disaster response and highlighted areas for improvement, such as accepting external observation requests and refining data distribution interfaces. Future efforts will focus on enhancing collaboration with external agencies and improving emergency response capabilities using private satellites.